Japanese executive fired after conviction for fixing rice prices in Myanmar

Japanese businessman Hiroshi Kasamatsu has been released from detention in Myanmar where he had been held for more than a month on charges of violating rice pricing laws, officials confirmed Tuesday.

Kasamatsu, a manager at an Aeon Orange supermarket in Myanmar, was arrested on June 30 for selling rice above official price limits. Convicted of violating a law on daily necessities, he was sentenced to a year in prison and fined 500,000 kyat (about $150).

The Japanese Foreign Ministry reviewed Kasamatsu’s conviction and subsequent release, noting that his future plans — whether to remain in Myanmar or return to Japan — were unclear. They confirmed that he was in good health but provided few additional details.

Rice is a staple commodity in Myanmar, a country struggling to stabilize its economy amid ongoing internal conflict and the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The country’s military seized power in 2021, sparking widespread protests that have since escalated into armed resistance.

Aeon Orange is part of Japanese retail giant Aeon Group, which operates many supermarkets in Myanmar. The company has not yet commented on the situation.

Kasamatsu is one of several foreign executives detained on similar charges in Myanmar. Earlier in July, the state-run Myanmar Alin newspaper reported that a crackdown on rice overpricing — ranging from 31% to 70% above official prices — involved 62 suspects, 102 warehouses, 53 supermarkets, 25 flour mills and seven other shops in major cities.

Japan has historically had friendly relations with Myanmar and has taken a more lenient stance toward its military government than many Western countries. Although Tokyo has limited its aid to humanitarian purposes and does not recognize the current regime, it has refrained from imposing economic sanctions.

(Based on information from the agency.)